SInce Elijah and ENoch did not experience Physical Death- Are they the 2 Witnesses?

Question

in the Book of Revelation?

They will be on earth to give testimony for 1260 days (Olive Trees and Lampstands) they have great power they can cause it not to rain they

will be in Israel and killed temporarily... 3.5 days then they will raise back to heaven....

Answer 1

Many Christians do not think that Revelations fits with the loving mood of the rest of the NT.

Some have said that the inclusion of the book was done for political reasons not for reasons of inspiration.

Answer 2

A lot of ppl think so.

Answer 3

Crimmy, I think the short answer at this time is this:  we don't know.

While many people think Elijah will be one of the two witnesses written about at Revelation 11, neither that Chapter nor Malachi 3:5-6 specifically state that Elijah is one of the two witnesses:

5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

      Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

       6 And he will turn

      The hearts of the fathers to the children,

      And the hearts of the children to their fathers,

      Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

Reading the text without any pre-conceived assumptions (i.e. that Elijah is one of the two witnesses), we only know these two facts:  1)  Elijah will arrive BEFORE the Tribulation starts; and 2) his ministry at that time will be restricted to healing the rift described by Jesus at Matthew 10:

34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

   " 'a man against his father,

      a daughter against her mother,

   a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -

    36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

And since that day through the present, Jewish families have been torn apart when a member places his or her trust in Yeshua as Messiah.  Elijah will seek to reconcile this rift.  We know he'll be unsuccessful, since God states at Mal. 3:6 that success will PREVENT Him from striking the earth with a curse (the Tribulation).  However, many Jews WILL listen and I believe these are the 144,000 mentioned at Revelation 7.

Having performed his mission, either Elijah will be taken up to Heaven again, OR he will be joined by a second witness -- who is not specifically named within Scripture -- and given a new mission.  But again, this is not explained anywhere in Scripture, so to conclude that Elijah is definately one of the witnesses is mere conjecture.

Having said this, I will also say that my "best guess" has always been that the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah -- but the operative word is "GUESS."

With regard to the two Olive Trees and the Lampstand (singular) of Zechariah 4, I disagree with many commentators that this is a reference to the two witnesses of Revelation 11.  If you back up and read beginning at Zechariah Chapters 3 through 6, God is giving Zechariah an encoded message that the coming "Branch" (Messiah) will hold two offices:  KING and PRIEST, as explained at Zech. 6:13b:  "So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”"  Therefore, the "two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth" (Zech. 4:13b) are symbolic representations of Jesus as King and Jesus as Priest.  This is the reason why there is only ONE Lampstand:  after He became the Light of the world and sat down at the right hand of the Father, He became both at once for the first time.

p.s. -- Elijah and Enoch aren't the only ones who will never experience physical death.  What about "those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord" at the time of the Rapture (1 Thes. 4:15)?  They'll ALSO never have died.

Answer 4

ya know what, I never thought about that. Good point!

Answer 5

The persecution of the church did not continue throughout the entire period of the 1260 years. God in mercy to his people cut short the time of their fiery trial. In foretelling the "great tribulation" to befall the church, the Saviour said, "Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." [MATT. 24:22.] Through the influence of the Reformation, the persecution was brought to an end prior to 1798.  

     Concerning the two witnesses, the prophet declares further, "These are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." "Thy Word," said the psalmist, "is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." [REV. 11:4; PS. 119:105.] The two witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament. Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salvation. The types, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament point forward to a Saviour to come. The Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament tell of a Saviour who has come in the exact manner foretold by type and prophecy.  

     "They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." During the greater part of this period, God's witnesses remained in a state of obscurity. The papal power sought to hide from the people the Word of truth, and set before them false witnesses to contradict its testimony. When the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth,--then the faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth. Yet they continued their testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God's Word, and were jealous for his honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare his truth during the whole of this time.   "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed." [REV. 11:5.] Men cannot with impunity trample upon the Word of God. The meaning of this fearful denunciation is set forth in the closing chapter of the Revelation: "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." [REV 22:18,19.]  

     Such are the warnings which God has given to guard men against changing in any manner that which he has revealed or commanded. These solemn denunciations apply to all who by their influence lead men to lightly regard the law of God. They should cause those to fear and tremble who flippantly declare it a matter of little consequence whether we obey God's law or not. All who exalt their own opinions above divine revelation, all who would change the plain meaning of Scripture to suit their own convenience, or for the sake of conforming to the world, are taking upon themselves a fearful responsibility. The written Word, the law of God, will measure the character of every man, and condemn all whom this unerring test shall declare wanting.  

     "When they shall have finished [are finishing] their testimony." The period when the two witnesses were to prophesy clothed in sackcloth ended in 1798. As they were approaching the termination of their work in obscurity, war was to be made upon them by the power represented as "the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit." In many of the nations of Europe the powers that ruled in Church and State had for centuries been controlled by Satan, through the medium of the papacy. But here is brought to view a new manifestation of Satanic power. It had been Rome's policy, under a profession of reverence for the Bible, to keep it locked up in an unknown tongue, and hidden away from the people. Under her rule the witnesses prophesied, "clothed in sackcloth." But another power--the beast from the bottomless pit--was to arise to make open, avowed war upon the Word of God.

     The "great city" in whose streets the witnesses are slain, and where their dead bodies lie, "is spiritually Egypt." Of all nations presented in Bible history, Egypt most boldly denied the existence of the living God, and resisted his commands. No monarch ever ventured upon more open and high-handed rebellion against the authority of Heaven than did the ki

Answer 6

Possibly, but prophecies are made to be vague, and not understandable until it is fulfilled. We can think up dozens of possible meanings, but we won't know until it actually happens.

Answer 7

Where do you read that both Elijah & Enoch did not experience Physical death?

Note : The heavens” to which Elijah ascended were the atmospheric heavens. (Psalm 78:26; Matthew 6:26) Racing through earth’s atmosphere, the fiery chariot evidently transferred Elijah to another part of the earth, where he continued living for a time. Years later, in fact, Elijah wrote a letter to Jehoram, the king of Judah.—2 Chronicles 21:1, 12-15

Enoch: In the translation by R. A. Knox, how was Enoch “taken away without the experience of death”? God peacefully terminated Enoch’s life, sparing him the pangs of death from either sickness or violence at the hands of his enemies.

Both Elijah & Enoch did not go to heaven because Jesus plainly stated: “No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man.”—John 3:13;

Answer 8

Possibly. But I am going with Elijah & Moses.

And I don't think Elijah & Moses went to heaven flesh & bone. Their spiritual soul is in heaven. They are waiting for resurrection day to put on their everlasting flesh & bone. And at this time in Revelation, I think is after the rapture when most Saints raise up a new everlasting flesh & bone.

Elijah for sure, when you read Malachi4:5,6.  Who is coming before the great & dreadful day of the Lord.  Now the Spirit of Elijah came with John the Baptist before Jesus to prepare the way to the Lord.  But the Spirit of Elijah will be with a human before the Dreadful Day of the Lord (Like the Spirit of Elijah was with the John the Baptist in the Great Day of the Lord.).  Maybe even John the Baptist himself?!

http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInter...

I looked it up in my book... 'They will be wearing sack cloth meaning that it is a period of mourning & repentance.

John Hagee had said that many theologians believe it to be Elijah & Enoch.

J. Vernn McGee: Let us say with some assurance that Elijah is one of the witness. As to who the other one is, yur guess is as good as mine.'

Maybe John the Baptist, because the Spirit of Elijah was with John the Baptist. And also there are the 144,000 Evangelical Jews.

And also the two witnesses are annointed (Holy Spirit filled).  And so the 144,000 are sealed.  I think that may be because the Church has been raptured. The Church that had their oil lamps full (Holy Spirit filled) & were ready.  

Then... 'Most people want to know who the two witnesses will be. Some say Elijah & Enoch. Others say Elijah & John the Baptist. Still others suggest Elijah & Moses. I believe they will be Jews, but no one knows for sure. It may possible that God does not tell us because it is not important'.

I think that maybe all four are?....

Answer 9

Who can say with certainty, but I guess it could be possible.

Answer 10

I believe it could be the same two that appeared at the Mount of Transfiguration.  Elijah and Moses.  The same two Jesus was conferring with.  The reason I say this is one, Elijah is the witness for the prophets, and Moses, for the law.

Peace and love...

Answer 11

This is the sort of question that the bible doesn't seem to answer -- here are the two scriptures which can help you think about it:-

1Cor 15:51-55 and Heb 9:27.

It is clear that we all have mortal bodies in this life and that all are eventually given immortal bodies once they have been judged. So we all undergo that change from mortal to immortal - corruptible to incorruptible. I would say that Enoch and Elijah have each been in the corruptible flesh and that each has been judged and freed from corruption so that they won't return into the flesh until the resurrection of the saints as Jesus returns - but its the sort of question that I had to consult God on spiritually through prayer to be sure. Jesus said that the Spirit of Truth would lead us into all truth - and that includes the truth about the two witnesses...

Answer 12

Yes, very well could be.

(or even Moses, he appeared with Elijah on the Mt, remember?)

Answer 13

I do believe they are.

I believe that is their destiny.

Answer 14

The Dispatching of the Two Witnesses:

These will be invulnerable men who will wear sackcloth and prophecy for 1,260 day (3 ½ years). Some believe it will be Moses and Elijah since both of their powers are very similar to the powers of the two witnesses. We know one of the witnesses shall be Elijah as written in:

Malachi 4

5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

Their powers are the following:

• Power to shut the sky, thus inhibit rain from coming

• Power to turn waters into blood

• Can execute as many plagues and torment as often as they wish

• Breathe fire from their mouths to anyone who want to harm them; that is the way they must die

Many people will be saved during the GREAT TRIBULATIONS by the combined testimonies and effort of both the two witnesses and the 144,000 Jewish Evangelicals.

The Two Witnesses Assassinated and Resurrected:

The end of the 3 ½ years midpoint of the 7 year tribulations the invulnerability of the two witnesses shall be lifted and the Antichrist shall slay them both. For 3 ½ days their bodies lay. The inhabitants of the Earth see the death of the two witnesses and are so evil they refuse to bury their bodies and gloat over their death and even give gifts to each other!! At the end of the 3 ½ days a voice from heavens says, “Come”, and the two witnesses come to life, the inhabitants of the Earth are amazed and horrified by this and the two witnesses ascend into heaven via a cloud while their enemies looked on below. A great earthquake at that same hour shall ensue and 1/10 of the city is destroyed and 7,000 people are killed, those who survived terrified and gave glory to God in heaven, probably thanking God for sparing their lives.